TUCP REP. MENDOZA AVERS TESTING IS IMPERATIVE TO CHECK THE SPREAD OF NEW VARIANT

TUCP CALLS FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE RANDOMIZED TESTING FOR WORKERS

Covid Testing For Workers.

In the light of 35 COVID-19 Delta variant cases confirmed by the Department of Health in the country, the TUCP calls upon its social partners, employers, and the Government, to immediately take measures for immediate and robust randomized RT-PCR testing of A4 workers nationwide. TUCP believes that such randomized testing is now made imperative to gauge the extent of the spread of the Delta variant in order that our health response not be caught flat-footed. 

Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza in a huddle with members.

TUCP Partylist Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza said that the only way to prevent the spread of this new Delta variant across the country is through robust and rapid testing of A1 front liners and A4 workers, as these are the members of the community that continue to go out and are more exposed to the virus as they keep the economy alive. “Employers have to step up and take on the responsibility of testing their workers, lest they further the spread of this Delta variant that could potentially lead the Philippines down the same disastrous path as other countries being ravaged by the new strain. We have seen that despite the excellent vaccination efforts in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, even fully vaccinated citizens are susceptible to catching this virus. We have only begun our vaccination program and this puts us in a more vulnerable position,” the lawmaker said.

TUCP specifically proposes: 

1. For EMPLOYERS to immediately provide and cover costs for random RT-PCR COVID tests for A4 workers in MEDIUM AND LARGE Enterprises; and  

2. For LGUs to immediately provide and cover costs for randomized RT-PCR COVID tests for A4 workers in small and micro-enterprises.

TUCP calls for rigorous and robust testing and contacts tracing to be done immediately in order to locate and identify where exactly, the Delta variant is.  THIS TESTING SHOULD BE PRE-EMPTIVE AND ANTICIPATORY. This is in order to SCIENTIFICALLY ensure that containment response takes the form of GRANULAR LOCKDOWNS in a targeted manner. This is the best way to save lives and at the same time, save the economy.

Waiting for the infection to ripen and manifest itself into full-blown COVID symptoms before intervening, may well result in our healthcare system being outpaced and overcome by a fast-spreading variant, with dire life-or-death consequences. This is an urgent matter given that we are now clearly in a race against time.

To date, less than 4 percent of the total population of 4 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated.  In order to reach the targets for herd immunity, at least 70% percent of the population or 70M need to be given full doses of the vaccine. 

“The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines believes that robust, rigorous, and rapid testing is key to saving the economy. TUCP cautions against a knee-jerk lockdown of whole cities as more Delta cases emerge. TUCP feels such a one-size-fits-all response will further dampen economic recovery and increase the stress on our already heavily burdened institutions of public assistance. It is far preferable and less costly in the long run to run these tests before we see more deaths and a new wave of lockdowns which will short circuit vital economic activities,” said TUCP Vice President Luis Corral.

While the A1 workers and OFWs and Seafarers are subjected to COVID tests, the larger bulk of our workforce, the A4, are made to fend for themselves in the matter of being given RT-PCR COVID tests. TUCP predicates its recommendations on the need to prevent a deadly surge that will impact both lives and the floundering economy. We have seen how the Delta variant has cut a deadly swath through India and now stalks our neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The late reboot of our economy is clearly under immediate threat, even as lives are at stake. TUCP believes it is now time to further spur on the phlegmatic vaccination roll-out and couple this with redoubled efforts for crucial Covid-19 tests.  How we respond in the next few days will determine the outcome of how this new development in the pandemic will ultimately play out.

“The entire nation depends on workers to revive the economy, and they cannot do that if they are not given protection against the ravages of disease. Workers are the priority and the government must step up its efforts to help MSMEs and their employees be protected from the virus,” Rep. Mendoza said.

(VerGarciaBlogs)

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